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AGED STALLIONS GRAND SLAM AGAIN. BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, FIELD EDITOR AQHA Pro Horseman Gene Parker of Orrum, North Carolina, led the palomino stallion Grand Slam Touchdown to the 2008 aged stallions world championship on November 22, the last halter class of the 2008 World Show. The horse is owned by Ernie and Susan Groeb of Onsted, Michigan; Susan led the horse to the 2008 amateur aged stallions world championship just last week – a first for both of them. Susan and Ernie flew home to Michigan after the amateur win, but they were sure to be back for today’s class. The Journal caught them after the win still on Cloud No. 9. Q. How does it feel to have a two-for-one at the World Show? Susan: It’s one of the best feelings you’ve ever experienced; it’s awesome, unbelievable. Ernie: you can hardly believe the emotions we’re all going through. Susan wanted to get us back into horses and did. She comes out with a world championship. We’ve got to give the biggest thanks to Gene and Bobbi Parker and Tom Robertson and Mary for helping find him. Gene and Bobbi and their whole crew are just phenomenal. It’s made this experience really great. Q. Did you have any idea, a gut feeling that he’d do as well? Susan: Well, we thought he should; we were hoping it. But being new to it, we didn’t know. We were just tickled to death; thrilled. Ernie: There’s a good pen of horses in there, and to come out and win it (he shook his head), our hats are off to those other horses. They did a nice job and looked good. The horse can speak for itself; it’s a gentle, great horse. Q. How did you spend last week? Susan: We went back to Michigan and finally came off Cloud No. 9, after winning with him in the amateur. Then turned around and flew back out here. We’ve just been crossing our fingers, praying, just hoping for the last few days. Ernie: The nervousness is incredible. Susan: Yeah, we didn’t sleep last night. Ernie: No. And today, getting ready in the stall, I mean, I don’t know how to describe it. But we’ve got such great people. Gene and Bobbi, you cannot say enough great things about them; they are just fine people. We are very honored to be working with them. We’ve got a great horse, too. Fun Fact: Read about Susan and Grand Slam Touchdown’s win in the 2008 amateur aged stallions here. WINNER STATS Horse name: Grand Slam Touchdown Total class entries: 14
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